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Hypno Warriors: Rise of the Uncles is a 2024 American science fiction action film directed by Michael Bay and based on the anime and manga series Hypno Warriors by Akira Toriyama. The film's score was composed by Hans Zimmer, and it features popular songs from various artists, including Imagine Dragons and Halsey.

Principal photography for the film began on July 1, 2022, in various locations across the United States, including Los Angeles, California, and New York City, New York. The film was produced by Paramount Pictures and Skydance Media and was released in the United States on August 4, 2024, and internationally on August 11, 2024, on Netflix.

Despite its commercial success, grossing over $410 million at the box office worldwide, the film received mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike, with many criticizing the film's over-the-top action and poorly written characters. It was nominated for several awards, including Worst Picture at the Golden Raspberry Awards, where it won, and Best Makeup at the Academy Awards, where it also won.

Plot
Hailey, the protagonist, is a smart but socially awkward girl who is constantly bullied by the popular girls, Sylvie and Moon. Maverick is the handsome jock that Hailey has a crush on but he doesn't notice her. Hailey spends her days studying history, hoping to learn something that will give her the confidence to stand up to her bullies.

One day, Zoltar, their new high school history teacher, arrives and reveals that he is actually an ancient warrior who fought the Uncles in the past. He explains that the Uncles have returned and are planning to use their hypnotic powers to take over the world. Zoltar knows that the only way to stop them is to gather a group of powerful hypnotists to fight against them.

Despite their differences, Zoltar brings Hailey, Sylvie, Moon, and Maverick together to train as the new Hypno Warriors. As they train, they struggle to work together as a team due to their conflicting personalities. Meanwhile, the Uncles continue to wreak havoc, causing destruction and chaos throughout the city.

As the Hypno Warriors start to gain confidence in their abilities, they must use their powers to stop the Uncles from achieving their goal. The Hypno Warriors engage in a series of battles with the Uncles, leading up to a final showdown where they confront the villains and attempt to save the world.

After a thrilling battle, the Hypno Warriors emerge victorious, but not without facing some personal challenges along the way. In the mid-credits scene, the heroes celebrate their victory with a dance party, but the camera reveals that Uncle Naked, who was thought to be defeated, is still alive and watching them from afar, setting up a potential sequel.

In the post-credits scene, Hypnotist X is revealed, suggesting that the Hypno Warriors will face new and even more dangerous villains in the future. Despite the silly and Disney-like tone of the movie, it ends on a suspenseful note, leaving the possibility for future adventures open.

Cast

 * Emma Watson as Moon
 * Jenna Ortega as Hailey
 * Robert Pattinson as Maverick
 * Emma Stone as Sylvie
 * Dwayne Johnson as Zoltar
 * Danny DeVito as Uncle Basement
 * Steve Buscemi as Uncle Slimy
 * Jonah Hill as Uncle Credit Card
 * Tom Hardy as Uncle Hairy
 * Jack Black as Uncle Bathroom
 * Owen Wilson as Uncle Fix It
 * Christopher Walken as Uncle Pill Bottle
 * Samuel L. Jackson as Uncle Knows The Way
 * Johnny Depp as Uncle Naked

Peter Dinklage makes a cameo appearance in the post-credits scene of the film as Hypnotist X, a mysterious figure who is hinted to play a larger role in potential sequels.

Production
The production of the Hollywood adaptation of Hypno Warriors was a tumultuous process, plagued by a series of setbacks and changes. Originally, the project was conceived in 2002, with Sam Raimi attached as the director. At that time, the plan was to make a faithful adaptation of the beloved anime, which was popular both in Japan and internationally. However, the project stalled in development hell and was ultimately shelved.

It wasn't until many years later that the project was revived, with Michael Bay taking over as the director. This time, the studio wanted to make a more action-packed version of the story, with the Uncles as the villains. The new script was a radical departure from the original anime, which had a much more nuanced and complex storyline. The changes to the story, along with the troubled production, led to a movie that was poorly received by both critics and fans of the original anime.

One of the major challenges during the production was working with Michael Bay, who was known for his grandiose and often chaotic action sequences. Bay reportedly clashed with the studio over the budget and creative control, leading to numerous delays and reshoots. The high-stakes action scenes and special effects also proved to be a significant challenge for the production team, with the movie's release date being pushed back multiple times.

Despite the challenges, the studio was determined to see the project through, as there was a significant amount of money invested in the production. The cast and crew worked long hours, often in difficult conditions, to bring the movie to completion. However, the final product was a far cry from the original anime and was widely criticized for its shallow and nonsensical plot.

Interestingly, this was not the first adaptation of Hypno Warriors to be made. A faithful TV movie was released in 1999 on Fuji TV in Japan, which was well received by fans of the original anime. However, the Hollywood version of the movie bore little resemblance to its source material, with only the names of the characters being retained. Peter Dinklage's cameo as Hypnotist X was a nod to the original anime and a way to appeal to fans who were disappointed with the final product.

Filming
Principal photography for Hypno Warriors: Rise of the Uncles began on July 1, 2022, in various locations across the United States, including Los Angeles, California, and New York City, New York. Michael Bay, known for his bombastic action films, reportedly used over 2,000 explosions during the filming of the movie.

Music
The film's score was composed by Hans Zimmer, who previously collaborated with director Michael Bay on several films, including the Transformers series. The soundtrack also features popular songs from various artists, such as Imagine Dragons and Halsey.

Release
Hypno Warriors: Rise of the Uncles was released in the United States on August 4, 2024, and internationally on August 11, 2024, on Netflix. The film received mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike, with many criticizing the film's over-the-top action and poorly written characters. Despite this, the film was a commercial success, grossing over $410 million at the box office worldwide.

Reception
Hypno Warriors: Rise of the Uncles received mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 45%, based on 164 reviews, with an average rating of 5.2/10. The site's consensus reads, "Despite a star-studded cast and explosive action sequences, Hypno Warriors: Rise of the Uncles fails to capture the magic of the original series, resulting in a disappointing adaptation." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 47 out of 100, based on 37 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".

Critics specifically noted the poor characterization of the Uncles, with some calling their portrayal offensive and stereotypical. Johnny Depp's portrayal of Uncle Naked was also criticized for being gratuitous and unnecessary. The film's plot was seen as nonsensical and too far removed from the source material.

However, some praised the film's visual effects and action sequences. The use of explosions, a trademark of director Michael Bay, was also lauded by some fans of the genre. The film was also successful at the box office, grossing over $410 million worldwide, despite its mixed critical reception.

In contrast, the original anime series and its faithful TV movie adaptation were widely acclaimed by fans and critics alike for their strong character development and engaging plotlines. The poor reception of the Hollywood adaptation only served to highlight the significant differences between the original and the Hollywood version.

Awards and nominations
Hypno Warriors: Rise of the Uncles received several nominations for various awards, including the Golden Raspberry Awards, which recognize the worst films in cinema. The film won the award for Worst Picture, with Michael Bay receiving a nomination for Worst Director.

However, the film was also recognized for its makeup, with the team led by John Smith winning the Academy Award for Best Makeup at the 97th Academy Awards.

Home media
Hypno Warriors: Rise of the Uncles was released on Blu-ray and DVD on November 12, 2024. The home release included several special features, such as behind-the-scenes footage, interviews with the cast and crew, and a featurette on the film's visual effects.

Controversy
The film received criticism for its portrayal of the Uncles, with some accusing it of perpetuating harmful stereotypes. Additionally, Johnny Depp's casting and portrayal of Uncle Naked sparked controversy due to the actor's past behavior and allegations of domestic abuse. Some viewers called for a boycott of the film.

In response to the backlash, director Michael Bay issued a statement defending the film, stating that it was meant to be a fun, over-the-top action movie and that the Uncles were never intended to be taken seriously. However, Bay also acknowledged the criticism and apologized for any offense caused by the film.

Furthermore, the production of the film was plagued with controversy, with reports of on-set conflicts between director Michael Bay and members of the cast and crew. Several crew members alleged that Bay created a hostile work environment, with long hours and demanding conditions that sometimes put the safety of the cast and crew at risk.